Addressing the IFA annual general meeting this week, IFA president Joe Healy said 2018 will be a defining year for farming. Never before have such major challenges as Brexit, the CAP budget, Mercosur and climate change converged in a single year. He said the IFA will be there to represent the interests of all farmers during this crucial year and beyond.

Healy said: “The next 12 months will be a test of the European Union’s commitment to our sector. We expect Europe to stand by farmers and acknowledge the support Irish farmers have shown towards the European Union.”

He told the AGM that post-Brexit, we cannot have a scenario where the UK Government can do as it pleases as regards agricultural trade with third countries. “If the UK wants continued access to the EU market, the EU must insist that the UK will not be free to open its markets to low-standard or low-value products from outside the EU.”

Healy said: “For the Irish agri-food sector, the focus needs to be on the relationship between the EU and the entirety of the UK. North-south regulatory alignment will help to solve one problem of the hard border in Ireland. East-west regulatory alignment has the potential to deliver a lot more – to avoid major disruption for Irish food exporters to our largest market, Britain.”

He said there must be a strong CAP budget after 2020 with two elements: direct payments supporting active farmers and a well-funded Rural Development Programme. The IFA president warned against a situation where EU farmers have their incomes cut because the UK decided to leave.

Rural Ireland

The IFA president said the CAP is important for Europe, but it is vital for Ireland, and rural Ireland, in particular. He said: “We must also remember that the CAP has delivered hugely for EU consumers. It has delivered significant environmental and social benefits for the entire community. Now is the moment for this Government and our Taoiseach to show their mettle by standing up for the CAP.”